Also, the professional officers in parts of Chinese history were, themselves, a bit… oddly educated, and having a basic handbook might’ve been useful for some of them as well.
“Ah, General Shang, I see you have mastered the art of lifting large objects! Keep up the good work!” - Song Dynasty Bureaucrat-Scholar Who Is Very Happy To See The Officer Corps Is Not Educated Enough To Overthrow Him
Also, the professional officers in parts of Chinese history were, themselves, a bit… oddly educated, and having a basic handbook might’ve been useful for some of them as well.
“Ah, General Shang, I see you have mastered the art of lifting large objects! Keep up the good work!” - Song Dynasty Bureaucrat-Scholar Who Is Very Happy To See The Officer Corps Is Not Educated Enough To Overthrow Him
Those generals might not know anything about logistics or strategy, but you can rest assured their education on poetry and calligraphy was top-notch!
My understanding is they were fearsome fighters that slew enemy soldiers by the hundreds.
Source: The interactive history series Dynasty Warriors